Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates Small Business Saturday

To The Press

Saturday, Nov. 30, marks the 10th anniversary of Small Business Saturday, and the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce is once again joining the effort to “Shop Small” and support local businesses.

“Locally owned and run shops are the heart and soul of our business community,” said Charles City Community Development Director Mark Wicks.

“They provide much-needed products and services, but they also provide jobs, livelihoods, convenience and pump dollars back into our local economy,” he said. “To sustain them, though, we need to support them.”

That’s the idea behind Small Business Saturday, created in 2010 by American Express to celebrate the impact small businesses have on communities across the country.

“When you Shop Small, you are doing so much more than just supporting a local business,” Wicks said. “You are helping to keep jobs in the community. You are helping families live and raise their children here. You are helping to keep our community vibrant and to provide things you need without the hassle of having to go out of town to get them.

“What’s more, you will find some of the best customer service right here in our local shops,” he said. “You will find people who are knowledgeable and who can help you get what you want and need, who will talk to you face-to-face. No waiting on hold on the phone or for an email response from a stranger from who knows where.”

In order to drive shoppers to Shop Small this Nov. 30, the Chamber is participating in the American Express Neighborhood Champion Program to spotlight small businesses and the impact they have on communities.

An average two-thirds of every dollar ($0.67) spent at a small business in the U.S. stays in that local community. That means shopping small could help bring things like better schools, smoother roads and new jobs to neighborhoods across the country.

Since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $103 billion across all Small Business Saturdays combined.

“That’s money that stays in and further benefits those communities,” said Wicks. “The vast majority of your dollars spent at the big box stores do not. So when you Shop Small, you are really helping yourself.”

Merchants and consumers can learn more about Small Business Saturday and how to get involved by visiting ShopSmall.com.